urements to determine arterial heat temperature, which is close to
core body temperature. That temperature is shown on a screen on the
device, either in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
"It gives us a baseline," says Ms. York, the director of surgery at
Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, N.C. She adds that her hospi-
tal uses the thermometer to check patients' body temperatures as
soon as they enter the facility to see what they'll need to do to keep
them normothermic. Anyone with a temperature over 36°C (normoth-
ermic) will likely require only warm blankets, while anyone with a
temperature under 36°C will require more effort to raise their temper-
ature before surgery.
The device is widely used, both in surgical centers and at home by
patients. A simple, at-home device can cost around $40, while others
that are meant for more accurate readings in medical facilities can be
purchased from medical supply companies for up to $400. The device
is easy to use and simple, says Ms. York. It's less invasive than an oral
or rectal measuring system, for which her patients no doubt are grate-
ful.
2. Skin dots
If you're looking for a less invasive way to monitor core temperature,
Daniel Sessler, MD, chair of the department of outcomes research at the
Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic, suggests a circular insulated patch, around 1
inch in diameter, which you affix to the patient's forehead. The patch
insulates the skin directly underneath it so that the section of skin isn't
losing any heat to the surrounding environment.
"What you've created is a perfect insulator," says Dr. Sessler. That
insulation creates an isothermal pathway, which, within about 5 min-
utes, allows the heat from the deep tissue underneath the patch to
rise to the surface, where the patch catches and records it. That gives
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